I have a 3 year old daughter. I am so overwhelmed by the amount of curriculum out there and the different ways to approach home schooling. I am also not sure what to do with her during her preschool years since most programs donâ€™t begin until Kindergarten (not to mention the few programs I have found for preschool are things she already has learned....). I would like to have a Christian based program that is in alignment with the Colorado state requirements. I would like it to be structured yet non-traditional, if that even exists (not wanting a lot of testing). If you have any advise for me it would be greatly appreciated!!

mandyandira wrote:I have a 3 year old daughter. I am so overwhelmed by the amount of curriculum out there and the different ways to approach home schooling. I am also not sure what to do with her during her preschool years since most programs donâ€™t begin until Kindergarten (not to mention the few programs I have found for preschool are things she already has learned....). I would like to have a Christian based program that is in alignment with the Colorado state requirements. I would like it to be structured yet non-traditional, if that even exists (not wanting a lot of testing). If you have any advise for me it would be greatly appreciated!!

You don't have to buy a "program" to teach your little one. Parents have been teaching their children for millennia without buying anything; you will naturally teach your dd colors and shapes and numbers and counting and matching--all the kinds of things that you'd find in a glossy colored box of books.

Is there even such a thing as requirements for preschool?

Married to Mr. Ellie for over 30 years
Mother to 2 dds and 2 dsil
Grandmother to 1 sweet boy
Caretaker of 2 budgies

Preschool doesn't require a curriculum. Play games with her. Get her toys with colors and shapes. Get her crayons and clay (play doh?) and have her color and make things. Read her stories. Point out letters and tell her the sounds. That kind of thing. I'd avoid trying to have her memorize words, go with the phonic sounds. I'm sure there are Christian based stories you can read to her. If you want structure, put activities in a schedule (story time, crafting/art, outdoor, or whatever). I wouldn't push academics this young, though. There's a book you might want to get ahold of called Better Late than Early. Very interesting read.

mandyandira wrote:I have a 3 year old daughter. I am so overwhelmed by the amount of curriculum out there and the different ways to approach home schooling. I am also not sure what to do with her during her preschool years since most programs donâ€™t begin until Kindergarten (not to mention the few programs I have found for preschool are things she already has learned....). I would like to have a Christian based program that is in alignment with the Colorado state requirements. I would like it to be structured yet non-traditional, if that even exists (not wanting a lot of testing). If you have any advise for me it would be greatly appreciated!!

It's a anxiety mater to get a good home school for son of daughter. I also have same problem as your. Your information is helpful for me. But i get best solution from this site[url="http://themorningstaracademy.org/courselistings/list.php"]The MorningStar Home School Academy[/url]
I thing you will get best home school for your lovely baby.

I had the same concerns when I first started home schooling my girls. My oldest is 8 now. Anyway, what I did is gone to any story, and pick up one of those preschool workbooks (Crayola or Mead, among others make them). Work with her a little on them. My daughters loved them at that age. Have her color or count the objects. The key that I've found is to relax and have fun with it. She will learn. They all do.

I agree, at that early age the most important thing is to instill the feeling that learning is fun! Games are fantastic as are books with colors and songs. That way it will be fun for you too. Stress with school should come much later

Preschool does require a curriculum. Look for one that is based on developmentally appropriate practices such a learning through play, pre-reading and pre-math skills, listening comprehension, fine and gross motor skills, executive functioning, etc.
Avoid one that heavily relies on worksheets or that promotes skills too difficult for a preschool child. For example- asks your child to learn letters of the alphabet. Practices such as these can cause confusion now and in Kindergarten when learning to read.

OntheRoadtoReading wrote:Preschool does require a curriculum. Look for one that is based on developmentally appropriate practices such a learning through play, pre-reading and pre-math skills, listening comprehension, fine and gross motor skills, executive functioning, etc. Avoid one that heavily relies on worksheets or that promotes skills too difficult for a preschool child. For example- asks your child to learn letters of the alphabet. Practices such as these can cause confusion now and in Kindergarten when learning to read.

Many of us would disagree that children younger than 5 need a formal structured "curriculum." Most parents are perfectly capable of helping their children develop the skills they need through the ordinary things that parents have always done with their young children.

Yes, of course parents are more than capable of teaching their children, but are they using the most developmentally appropriate methods? For example- too many posts here talk about the use of worksheets, but are these moms and dads aware that the use worksheets with children under the age of 6 are not an appropriate way to teach young children? Through play, dramatization and the development of executive functioning you are setting your child up for success. A worksheet cannot do that. A worksheet can never do that.

My post never promoted a "a formal structured "curriculum." But as a parent, I would want to be aware of the latest neuro-research and use it to help my child learn while having fun. I've been a teacher, reading coach, and reading specialist for over 35 years and know not only how children learn, but what to do if they experience learning challenges.

OntheRoadtoReading wrote:Yes, of course parents are more than capable of teaching their children, but are they using the most developmentally appropriate methods? For example- too many posts here talk about the use of worksheets, but are these moms and dads aware that the use worksheets with children under the age of 6 are not an appropriate way to teach young children? Through play, dramatization and the development of executive functioning you are setting your child up for success. A worksheet cannot do that. A worksheet can never do that.

My post never promoted a "a formal structured "curriculum." But as a parent, I would want to be aware of the latest neuro-research and use it to help my child learn while having fun. I've been a teacher, reading coach, and reading specialist for over 35 years and know not only how children learn, but what to do if they experience learning challenges.

I still disagree that parents need "developmentally appropriate methods." Perhaps children who are in full-time daycare need "developmentally appropriate methods," but children who are home do not.

You are welcome to disagree, but I rely on proven research, such as from Yale and NYU and classrooms across the country, to make informed decisions for my children. As a parent I need to know DAP. Whether or not they've been in daycare or are lucky enough to be homeschooled, has nothing to do with best practices. Don't our children deserve the best we have to offer?

OntheRoadtoReading wrote:You are welcome to disagree, but I rely on proven research, such as from Yale and NYU and classrooms across the country, to make informed decisions for my children. As a parent I need to know DAP. Whether or not they've been in daycare or are lucky enough to be homeschooled, has nothing to do with best practices. Don't our children deserve the best we have to offer?

You're aware, right, that this is a homeschooling forum? That many of the people here have children who were damaged by all the professional classroom models and that's why their parents are homeschooling?

It is the professionals who have managed to derail education in the U.S., with their Core Curriculum and whole language and new math. Thanks, but no thanks.

Happily, we homeschoolers are able to make informed decisions without the help of professionals and their "proven research."